Free The Rapture of Omega by Stacy Dittrich Page B

enforcement will be a strong point, too.” He looked over at Paula. “Now, keep in mind this is only a preliminary hearing so nothing will be decided today. The judge will basically ask if we’re officially objecting to her motion, and then he’ll set a date for trial.”
    My stomach was in knots. When Lori Kinderman arrived and the bailiff called our names, my legs felt like rubber as I walked into the courtroom. Paula Terman glared at me as we took our seats, which was concerning.She didn’t know me to hate me, and if she was already acting as if this was personal, I wasn’t very optimistic about the outcome.
    After we had all taken our seats and risen for the judge when he took his, he called the hearing to order. He went through the usual case number and readings that needed to be recorded before he began. Judge Lanahan, a small, timid-looking man with dark graying hair, called Paula’s attorney, Larry Seymore, first.
    “Mr. Seymore, you have filed a motion seeking permanent custody of Lola Dixon on behalf of your client, Paula Dawn Terman, is that correct?”
    “Yes, Your Honor.” He stood and quietly coughed into his hand. “Your Honor, the child’s mother was brutally murdered a little over a week ago and has no living relatives other than my client—her great-aunt. The child has been in the custody of one of the detectives who is investigating the murder, which is unusual, to say the least.” He emphasized “unusual” as he glanced my way, prompting my face to burn red with anger.
    He continued. “Needless to say, I feel it is a waste of the court’s time to even hear this case. My client is the child’s only living relative and these people that have the child now are no relation. Therefore, I ask the court to grant custody to my client today and dismiss the objection filed by Mr. Wakefield.”
    The judge remained silent, which almost caused my heart to stop. I felt Michael reach over and squeeze my hand; he knew I would lose it if the judge made me give up Lola today. After what seemed like eons, the judge addressed Henry.
    “Mr. Wakefield, do you have anything to add?”
    “Yes, I do, Your Honor.” Henry stood.
    “Your Honor, regardless if Mr. Seymore’s client is agreat-aunt to the child, it is our understanding she has never even met the child. Why she has decided now to come out of the woodwork to take custody of a child she doesn’t know, or hasn’t cared to know until now, is anyone’s guess. According to the child’s former babysitter, the mother would consistently refer to her mostly deceased family as trash, and would continuously say she is glad they weren’t a part of Lola’s life…”
    “Your Honor, that’s hearsay,” Larry Seymore objected.
    “I can bring the babysitter in for testimony if you’d like,” Henry countered.
    The judge waved his hand at the both of them.
    “This is only a prelim, and we’ll not be hearing testimony from anyone today. Mr. Wakefield, are you finished?”
    “No, Your Honor. Lola Dixon is two years old. Why hasn’t Mr. Seymore’s client made an effort to see her great-niece before? There were no visits, no phone calls, no Christmas or birthday gifts—nothing. Your Honor, my clients are well-known, upstanding members of the community that took Lola into their home and have grown to love this child. As you can see in the reports from Richland County Children’s Services, Lola has adapted very well to my clients and their other children, and we feel it would be devastating to this child to remove her. After all, she just lost her mother. We are prepared to put on several child psychologists that will testify to that fact, as well as testimony from the caseworker, Lori Kinderman.”
    Henry walked in front of our table before continuing. “And lastly, Your Honor, we believe this move by Ms. Terman is driven by nothing more than money. According to her credit report she doesn’t have a job and knows that by obtaining custody of the child